Ex-National Security Adviser, NSA, Col. Sambo Dasuki (Rtd), has reacted to the accusations from the the presidency on siphoning billions of dollars earmarked for arms purchases and order of his arrest President Muhammdu Buhari.
Dasuki in a statement said that he acted in the best interest of Nigeria and that it is laughable for the panel to assume that 4 Alpha jets and 12 helicopters were not delivered.
He said that the the immediate past Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Adesola Amosu in a memo acknowledged the receipt of the 4x Alpha jets attack aircraft and the helicopters also the Chief of Air Staff also confirmed the receipt of F-7 N1 aircraft combination of 250kg bombs and accessories at $2,894,000 with the cost of freight at $1,200,000. The same Air Force confirmed getting 2xTri Shield 36DG Tactical radars.
More so he said that to show that he has nothing to hide, he submitted a comprehensive list of all requests for procurements by the services, the items bought and those equipment being awaited to President Muhammadu Buhari long before he left office.
The Statement read thus
In a theatrical manner, the Presidency fed the public with many allegations against my person and yet to be named former public officers.
To draw sympathy, the presidency quoted some absurd findings including extra-budgetary interventions; award of fictitious contracts; 53 failed contracts; payment for jobs without contractual agreements; non-execution of contracts for the purchase of 4 Alpha jets, bombs and ammunition.
For undiscerning Nigerians, they may tend to assume that the allegations were true and pronounce the former National Security Adviser guilty as charged.
The statement issued by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, who should know better as a former President of the Nigerian Guild of Editors and a witness to history, was nothing sort of propaganda to cast aspersions on Dasuki.
To set the records straight, Nigerians should appreciate that the AVM Jon Ode-led panel did not invite the ex-NSA under any guise before arriving at its ambiguous findings. At least, fairness demands that the panel ought to hear from Dasuki instead of its recourse to hasty conclusions. If the panel had been more patient and painstaking, it would have been availed of all relevant documents on some of the jaundiced findings.
As if acting a script, the Presidency alleged that the Panel accused Dasuki of awarding fictitious contracts between March 2012 and March 2015. Contrary to this claim, Dasuki was not the NSA in March 2012 and he could not have awarded any contract in whatever name. The ex-NSA was appointed by ex-President Goodluck Jonathan on June 22, 2012.
All contracts and accruing payments were with the approval of the President and Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces. Once the ex-President approved, the former NSA paid. So, there was due process for every purchase in line with regulations guiding arms procurement for the Armed Forces.
And Nigerians should note that all the services generated the types of equipment needed, sourced for suppliers most times and after consideration by the Office of the NSA, the President will approve application for payment. For sensitive sectors (military/security), there was no room for awarding fictitious contracts. The conclusions of the panel were presumptive, baseless and lacked diligence.
There were no fictitious contracts; contract sums were not diverted and the relevant services in writing acknowledged delivery of equipment. For all procurements, the Nigerian Army, the Air Force and the Nigerian Navy have their contractors.
While awaiting judicial process on these allegations, it is proper to make some references to show that the presidency was just desperate to hang some former public and military officers who served this nation at the risk of their lives.
It is laughable for the panel to assume that 4 Alpha jets and 12 helicopters were undelivered. In a memo to the Office of the National Security Adviser(ONSA), referenced NAF/905/D/CAS of November 28, 2014, the immediate past Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Adesola Amosu acknowledged the receipt of the 4x Alpha jets attack aircraft and the helicopters.
On 10/21/14, the Chief of Air Staff also confirmed the receipt of F-7 N1 aircraft combination of 250kg bombs and accessories at $2,894,000 with the cost of freight at $1,200,000. The same Air Force confirmed getting 2xTri Shield 36DG Tactical radars
In another letter of December 1, 2014 signed by L.S. Alao(on behalf of the Chief of Air Staff), the Air Force said it received five containerized fuel storage and dispensing units with equipment.
The Nigerian Army wrote the ONSA to acknowledge the delivery of 14 armoured tanks. In a December 13, 2014 memo, the Brigade of Guards thanked ONSA for releasing N30m for RCA, Operation allowance for Troops on Op Urban Sweep II for third and fourth quarters of 2014. This is apart from the installation of CCT Cameras at the Brigade Headquarters, 2 backscatter bomb detection vans and other equipment.
On November 26, 2014, the immediate past Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh sought for approval of the award of one pair of uniform(in the interim) for the Armed Forces at N165, 375 to El-Jahab Mubarak Nigeria and N330,750,000 for two pairs.
These are some of the acknowledgment letters submitted to me by the end-users(the services). It is not for me to go and find out whether the equipment were delivered or not. I am not the one keeping the inventories.
To show that I have nothing to hide, I submitted a comprehensive list of all requests for procurements by the services, the items bought and those equipment being awaited to His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari long before I left office. If there were issues, I should have been questioned. I was just the clearing house, I did not award contracts to my company or proxies. There was no contract awarded or equipment bought without approval from the then President and Commander-In-Chief. I am not a thief or treasury looter as being portrayed.
In order not to endanger the nation’s security, there are many salient issues and contracts which I cannot put in public domain. I am ready for trial on all these allegations in order to prove to Nigerians that I did nothing untoward in office. We will certainly meet in court.
I have a lot to tell Nigerians but in the interim, they should not believe some of the allegations as the gospel truths. The good thing is that some of the key actors in the present administration were parts of the past process being viciously challenged.
As for my tenure as the nation’s NSA, I acted in the interest of the nation and with utmost fear of God. I did not use the office for any self-serving agenda. I occupied the Office of the National Security Adviser at a difficult moment in Nigerian history when terrorism was at its peak and I am leaving posterity to judge me accordingly. Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
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Who do we believe. You are innocent until established by the court of law to be guilty. I really felt sad when I heard report thinking that why should you do that. Many soldier died and some could have executed for runni g away from the battle field because they LA k equipment to fight.
ReplyDeleteWho do we believe. You are innocent until established by the court of law to be guilty. I really felt sad when I heard report thinking that why should you do that. Many soldier died and some could have executed for runni g away from the battle field because they LA k equipment to fight.
ReplyDeleteOnly a fool dat ll listen to desperate buhari who want to nail u n others bc u guys r in an opposition. If u were to b in APC, they could hav clapped hands 4 u 4 serving d country vry wel or even elongated ur tenure again. Neve mind them if wat u say is truth they can neve kil u but if u r lying too act of God fear return d money to d country pls.
ReplyDeleteBut production of Alpha jets ceased in 1991.
ReplyDeleteBuhari is going after Dasuki Bcos He was used by IBB to coup him out of Ofce We ar not in Democracy but in Authocracy if Dasuki was in APC he would be a Minister Today. What a Mean Govt...APC SHAME.....Hw can a panel made of Lawyers judge a case without hearing from both side and de Presidency accepts ds... To de point of saying Dasuki was investigated of fraudulent arm's deal from 2007 (Femi's Report) are dey writting this Trash for people who didnt have WAEC to read? or for Learned Nigerians If Buhari does not prove Dasuki and Daziani Guilty in a Clean court of law and goes ahead wit his kankaro Panel's Report, De same way he was disgraced out of ofce 30yrs ago So shall it be Again.....
ReplyDeleteI think we are still under military rule, this is based on my observations so far. Why on earth will a president in a democratic society set up a panel headed by ex military officer without inviting the accused person to come and clear himself from the charges. There is nothing like rule of law. If Mr president believe so much in the rule of law then he will obey court orders.
ReplyDeleteOnly a fool will believe what you just wrote above. Boko Haram has terrorized people for six years and you are saying someone's attempt to find out why the previous govt couldn't or wouldn't deal with the situation is playing politics?! Everyone knows the last gvt was very corrupt and not serious about tackling the problem. Try and use your brain for a second its there for a reason!
ReplyDeleteU ar APC Man go Ahead tacle BH I hope u are aware dat we had Bomb blast few days ago in Adamawa.Kano and Yola. As Corruptl as Amaechi & Fashola is which is widely published by Media and talked about every where Yet ur President has given dem de Best ministerial post and u ar still talking about Corruption. Shame on u and APC....
DeleteWhen they used political powers of their blind propaganda to block the military from procuring arms from USA and other countries,they were not nailed,now that their propaganda worked they want to shift blame to you.Nigerian know whaat is happening.The same government made some of the greatest looters of all times ministers of a changed Republic.Let see how it goes because i am ashamed to be a Nigerian with all these things that we are seeing.
ReplyDeleteWe still have fools around who interpret fraud issues on the premises of politics and tribe. Dasuki has elected to clear his name by defending himself hoping when trial commences there will be no legal hiccups like appeals frivolous application etc
ReplyDeleteIts sad that we trivialise national and sensitive issues for politics, religious and tribal gains thereby playing down the main issues and the Nation. We were all witness to what happened to our soldiers and the catastrophic consequences om the our people and the nation. Its time we look beyond the rhetoric and sentiments for national growth and development
ReplyDeletethe civil service system can make it possible for delivery of non existence equipment and all relevant papers will be signed as delivered
We saw how oil Barons were importing nothing and claiming billions as subsidies
Rather than throwing stones at one another, lets exercise patience to learn and become more informed. These politicians are the devils we have to fear
they sell dummy to us at our detriment and are happy at our division
Whosoever that is brought whether opposition or not still has the right to defend himself.
ReplyDeleteWe all heard it when the army said they lack ammunition to fight boko haram, even leading some innocent soldier to execution and such money were spend of same purpose.
Lets not be political about issue.
Dasuki's submission is feeble and contradictory especially as regards the acknowledgment of the jets, helicopters etc. by the former Service Chiefs. Where are these equipment? Nigerians are awaiting to hear more from Dasuki. He does not have my sympathy yet.
ReplyDeleteLet Dasuki be given a fair hearing. Let him have the chance of saying his own side of the story with his evidences as exhibits in a law court. This is fairness. PMB shouldn't rubbish himself by handling sensitive issues like this haphazardly.
ReplyDeleteDasuki ole. But you refused to face the panel when you were indicted. Now I can see why you changed the election date in a desperate bid to frustrate Nigerians. Go to court and defend yourself. Enough of this fake sickness and traveling abroad for treatment. The souls of the dead soldiers and victims of BH will surely haunt you till you die. You will die in jail.
ReplyDeleteIf settin up panel to investigate corrupt peopl works, y is Ameachi hanging round wit buhari lk d saint. Big shame to our govt who r after witch hurting instead of fightin corruption oooo
ReplyDelete